Tuesday, April 20, 2010

After my post about the Look of Suits from 1955, Facebook fan Bonnie sent me these pictures and the story of her mom and dad. She has kindly given permission for me to share them with you here.

Lois Marie Cashell and Charles Berkeley Randall were married in November 1957. Lois was working as a hairdresser at Hochschild-Kohn, one of Baltimore's famous department stores at the time.

Because the wedding was small, with only immediate family in attendance for the service at St. James Lutheran Church, Lois chose to wear a suit instead of a wedding gown. She purchased the Glenhaven suit at Hochschild-Kohn, and remembers it was quite expensive, even with her employee discount!

I found this ad for a very similar Glenhaven suit from 1957. Glenhaven suits were of very high quality and made of the best fabrics. Lois's suit was made of Forstmann wool, one of the premier wool mills of the time.

Sadly, Charles passed away just months shy of the couple's 50th wedding anniversary, but their children took Lois out to celebrate the date despite that fact. Amazingly, she was still able to fit into her wedding suit, and wore it along with the original hat, jewelry, and slip that she wore on her wedding day for the celebration. Isn't she beautiful?

Bonnie was kind enough to take some detailed photos of the suit for us.

Not only did the suit last all those years, it still looks stylish today! Thanks for sharing your story and pictures, Bonnie and Lois!

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comments:

This story about Lois, the very lovely lady from Baltimore, brought me a smile all the way down here in Australia. I was previously married to an American from Baltimore and lived in Towson in the mid 1970s. My late mother in law, Marjorie Hill, nee Hellman, had been a top photograhic model in Baltimore in the late 30's and 1940s. She was extremely well dressed and style conscious, and she loved to take me shopping at Hochschild-Kohn - always reminding me it was THE department store in Baltimore. Did Lois work there in the 50's? She might have even known my late "Mom" inlaw. I guess HK Department store has long gone, but I do remember it well. It really is a small world. I still have some photos of Marjorie modelling in some really great 40's & 50's dresses. I will seek them out and post them. In the meantime - a big Hello from Pamela Hill-Wright at Vintage & Designer Fashion Australia to Bonnie and her ever lovely Mom, Lois.

Thank you for all the lovely comments! Pam - My mother works at Hochschild's in the mid-50's as a hairdresser, but stopped in the fall of 1958. Great story about your MIL. It is a small world, isn't it?

I LOVE this story! I actually think Lois looks even more gorgeous today than she did in her wedding photo (which is tough to do). What a beautiful, strong figure she has. And what a beautiful suit to show it off!

I am pleased to tell you that Lois is a good friend and neighbor and a wonderful fill-in "Grandma" to my daughters. The 1950's represent an era of distinction and good taste in clothing but they also had a refinement of spirit, language and demeaner that remain with Lois today. When my daughter returns home from a visit with "Mrs. Randall" she trails those clouds of refinement with her!

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A blog for lovers of vintage clothing and fashion, where you can learn about vintage styles, designers, and design concepts through photos from the past. I also feature vintage garments available for sale at my website. Your comments are welcome! Shop http://www.coutureallure.com/ for the best in vintage fashion.